A/HRC/40/62 of fear of witchdoctors accused of crimes against persons with albinism. Some judicial officers are also fearful for the personal safety and welfare of their family. Redson Kapindu, from Malawi, noted that the heightened sense of insecurity among magistrates was also a factor of concern in cases involving attacks on persons with albinism. Magistrates expressed fear that in some cases, especially when a suspect was acquitted, there was a heightened sense of personal and family insecurity due to anger within the community. Magistrates are not provided with any form of security. 55 70. In several of the submissions received stakeholders noted that in instances of human rights violations against persons with albinism, remedies provided by the judicial system beyond the prosecution of perpetrators have provoked an outcry of dissatisfaction. 56 There is need for Government to establish a “special fund” to facilitate compensation for those who have suffered attacks and other violations. This proposal is, however, not intended to negate the importance of successfully holding perpetrators to account through the criminal justice system. States need to consider other forms of reparation with the intention of restoring the dignity of the victims and their role in society. 71. The delays and challenges in the logical conclusion of cases of attacks against persons with albinism have led to members of the public becoming increasingly frustrated with, and suspicious of, the justice system and taking matters into their own hands, through mob violence in some cases. Furthermore, these challenges often breed a culture of impunity, appealing to would-be offenders. Curricula and training: increasing legal awareness for law enforcement and judicial practitioners 72. There has been some progress in increasing legal awareness and knowledge regarding the protection of the rights of persons with albinism. For instance, the United Nations in Malawi has developed a handbook for investigators, prosecutors and magistrates that outlines the legal provisions that can be used in responding to attacks on persons with albinism. Following the production of this handbook, the United Nations conducted training of 148 police officials, prosecutors, investigators and magistrates. 57 Despite these efforts, a considerable number of offences continue to be “charged under general provisions and not the provisions specific to persons with albinism”, which offer greater protection.58 73. It has also been reported that lack of knowledge is more common among magistrates of lower jurisdiction as compared to professional magistrates. Ironically, the former are more accessible to people. Similarly, lack of knowledge is also reported among court administrators and court clerks who register cases and are usually the first points of contact for those seeking justice through the courts. Thus, some clerks send persons with albinism away or encourage them to mediate as opposed to utilizing the court process in instances of rights violations. 74. Training opportunities should therefore not be limited to a particular cadre of the justice system; they should cut across all levels of the hierarchy of the legal system, with prioritized focus on those who are first points of contact. It is the response of these critical entry points, such as clerks and registry officers, that will largely determine whether persons with albinism whose rights have been violated or their relatives will seek to proceed with a case. If these critical actors have particular biases, are disrespectful or provide insufficient or misleading information, it can adversely affect the progress of the case. 75. In order to address challenges associated with the poor capacity of magistrates of lower jurisdiction, some countries have ordered that cases of serious violations of persons with albinism be handled by magistrates of a higher grade. Subsequent to the country visit of the Independent Expert to Malawi, the Chief Justice issued a practice direction to this 55 56 57 58 14 Ibid., p. 43. Submissions from stakeholders in Malawi and the United Republic of Tanzania. Submission from a stakeholder in Malawi. Kapindu, Study on Challenges, p. 15.